3 Night Marathon Tour from Beijing

Travel Dates: April 6 - 9

Pre-Tour Meeting: April 5th (Friday) in Beijing

Tour Cost: from 899 Euros

Visa Fee: 50 Euros

Tour Open For Applications

We are excited to offer the chance for amateur runners to take part in the Pyongyang Marathon 2019! This race can be run either as a full marathon or as a half marathon, and there are also 10km and 5km races. In addition to the foreign amateur runners, hundreds of local runners and some elite foreign runners will be participating as well.

In addition to the marathon, you’ll also get to see the highlights of Pyongyang city including its famous metro system, visit a supermarket to shop like a local and tour the famous Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum featuring the captured spy ship – the USS Pueblo.

TOUR ITINERARY

Fri 5 Apr

Sat 6 Apr

Sun 7 Apr

Mon 8 Apr

Tues 9 Apr

Fri 5 Apr

Mandatory Pre-Tour Briefing

All travelers are required to attend a pre-tour briefing that covers regulations, etiquette, safety, and practicalities for travel in North Korea. The briefing lasts approximately one hour followed by a question and answer session. Please be punctual for the briefing. You can come early, meet your fellow travelers, and pay any outstanding tour fees. A proper briefing is an essential part of travel to North Korea.

For Pyongyang Marathon tours, we will hold several briefings - in the morning for those departing by train in the afternoon, and in the afternoon for those departing by flight the next day. The exact times of these briefings are TBC.

Train travelers depart Beijing Station at 5:00pm by domestic sleeper train to Dandong, the Chinese city on the border with the DPRK. Please arrange independent travel to the train station and arrive at least an hour and a half early for the train departure. Those travelling by train will spend the night on the train.

Overnight hotel in Beijing not included in the tour for those taking the flight the next day. Contact us for recommendations.

Arrival day in Pyongyang

Arrival to Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport (FNJ) expected at 4:05pm. DPRK immigration and customs, meet your Korean guides and transfer to the city.

Arch of Triumph - A massive archway made for the 70th anniversary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung in 1982 and commemorating the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Larger than its counterpart in Paris.

Kim Il Sung Stadium & Marathon Route Preview - Visit the stadium where you will start and finish your race, and then drive the marathon route to familiarise yourself with the roads, turning points and toilet stops.

Check into the Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang - Home away from home for most (but not all!) foreign visitors to Pyongyang, this 47-story hotel is located on an island in the middle of the Taedong River and offers great views of the city. Comfortable rooms and comprehensive leisure facilities: swimming pool, spa, billiards, bowling, gift shops, tea houses and beer brewed on-site.

Optional screening of Comrade Kim Goes Flying - a DPRK film about a young rural coal miner, and North Korea’s first “girl power” movie about a young woman achieving her dreams. Produced and directed by a British, Belgian, and Korean team. The film is 78 minutes long and will be shown at the Pyongyang International House of Cinema, a short distance from our hotel. (100 RMB entry fee).

Sun 7 Apr

The big event - The Pyongyang Marathon 2018!

The 2019 Pyongyang Marathon - This is your chance to run the streets of Pyongyang in the DPRK’s largest annual sports event! Join the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km or 5km race — all of which follow a return course that starts and ends in Kim Il Sung Stadium in front of a 50-000-strong capacity crowd of local Koreans. The full route, which has been certified by both the IAAF and AIMS, leads right through the city centre, past a number of iconic landmarks, and then out into Pyongyang's less urban districts. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to see more of the capital and interact with people along the course.

Shower, resting time and lunch -After the marathon's closing ceremony, we'll be heading back to the hotel to recharge, shower and rest before heading out for a relaxing afternoon in Pyongyang

Tower of the Juche Idea - Iconic tower dedicated to the DPRK’s guiding philosophy on the Taedong River. Take the elevator to the top for great views of the city (elevator ticket is 5 EUR).

Local Beer Bar - Relax at one of Pyongyang’s local bars to wrap up an exciting day.

Mon 8 Apr

Pyongyang City Tour

Mangyongdae Native House- Birthplace and childhood home of President Kim Il Sung. A traditional Korean house in what is today a quiet suburban park.

Mansudae Fountain Park - The historic center of Pyongyang popular with local citizens after school and on weekends. Flanked by examples of ancient and modern architecture from different eras.

Mansudae Grand Monument - Enormous bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il overlooking downtown Pyongyang. A presentation of flowers and bow by the group is customary here (5 EUR). Please note this is a government-administered sight and visits are subject to cancellation. Visits are optional and require a certain dresscode (close-toed shoes and covered legs and shoulders). Here we will also see the Chollima Monument, or ‘thousand ri (400 km or 250 mile) horse’ -a symbol of speed- commemorating the quick rebuilding of the country in the 1950’s following the Korean War.

Pyongyang Metro Tour - One of the deepest metro systems in the world with stunning artwork reflecting the name of each station. Ride six stations on the Chollima Line.

Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum - Tour this world-class museum led by a local museum guide. Renovated in 2012 and it exhibits the Korean War from the DPRK perspective containing artifacts, documents, photos, and lifelike dioramas. The exterior grounds house the War Victory Monument and displays of Korean People’s Army Hero Equipment and captured equipment from the US military, including the USS Pueblo. Central to the understanding of the country today and highlight of the trip.

Party Foundation Monument - Iconic structure featuring the hammer, sickle & writing brush which make up the emblem of the Worker’s Party of Korea and represent workers, farmers, and intellectuals.

Kwangbok Department Store - Opportunity to use Korean currency and shop with the citizens of Pyongyang! Try the snack stand on the first floor for some of Pyongyang’s best local eats.

Golden Lane Bowling Centre - Where Pyongyang locals go for their ten-pin fix (2.5 EUR per person per game). Also has billiards and arcade games. Non-bowlers can head next door to the Kumrung Leisure Centre for an air gun shooting range (approximately 6 EUR per 20 round cartridge) and some of the best coffee in Pyongyang.

Tues 9 Apr

Departure Day

Departure Day from Pyongyang and Return to Beijing by flight or train.

Flight departure from Pyongyang on Air Koryo Flight JS151 with a scheduled arrival at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 at 9:50 am.

OR

Train departure by local train to the Korean-Chinese border at 10:25, transfer in Dandong and onward travel to Beijing with scheduled arrival to Beijing Station on Wednesday April 10th at 08:30. For this tour the default option is hard sleeper (six beds per berth).

TRANSPORT OPTIONS

Option 1: Round-trip train (Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing)

A 23-hour train journey each way in hard-sleeper class (six bunks per berth) with a transfer in Dandong, China. The train arrives in Pyongyang approximately two hours after the flight so train arrivals will miss one or two activities in the city. This option is for those travelling on a budget with time to spare (and train enthusiasts, of course). [+0 EUR]

We highly recommend this option: it maximizes your time and sightseeing opportunities; lets you experience both Air Koryo and the international train; plus allows you to start the trip rested, while taking the leisurely route home. In our view, this is the most comprehensive way to visit the DPRK. Flight time from Beijing-Pyongyang is 90 minutes, and the train trip is 23 hours including border checks [+199 EUR]

Option 3: Round-trip flight (Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing) +299 EUR

Round-trip flight (Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing): Choosing the round-trip flight option gets you between Beijing and Pyongyang in 1.5 hours (each way), and lets you experience the infamous Air Koryo ‘burger’ twice! For many nationalities, this also allows for the possibility of transiting in Beijing, rather than having to get a Chinese visa (please see below). This option is for those with little time to spare, travellers wanting simply to transit through China, or aviation enthusiasts. [+299 EUR]

Visa Information

We arrange your North Korean visa as part of your tour package [+50 EUR]. However, given the tour starts and finishes in China you may also need to arrange a Chinese visa for your trip obtained at a Chinese diplomatic mission abroad. We recommend obtaining at least a double-entry Chinese visa for your trip.

Most nationalities will require a visa for China if entering and/or exiting by train.

Over 50 nationalities can obtain a visa-waiver for up to 144 hours when in transit through Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) using direct international flights. Most other nationalities can transit for up to 24 hours.

Please be sure to check your visa status for travel through China while planning your trip. We are unable to arrange Chinese visas, but can provide documentation in support of visa applications upon payment of a tour deposit.

Please note that the itinerary may differ slightly to what is above but your tour leader will do their best to ensure that as much is covered as possible and will also add in extras when there is time such as a visit to a local bar or a funfair. We visit the DPRK regularly and know all the best places to go to make your trip even more unique. We will make the most of your time in the DPRK to guarantee the experience of a lifetime.

TOUR FEE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING

Return flight Beijing – Pyongyang / Pyongyang – Beijing

All meals on the tour (these will be at local restaurants or in the hotel)

Hotel accommodation

A Koryo Tours tour leader, two local Korean guides, and a driver per group